I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Give Me A Sign by Anna Sortino. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In Give Me A Sign, Lilah is tired of feeling left out. She doesn’t have enough hearing to be considered “normal” by her classmates, but she also doesn’t feel as if she’s deaf enough to be considered Deaf, either. So when she gets the chance to return to her old summer camp as a junior counselor, she takes the offer. Because this camp is for deaf and/or blind kids, and this is an opportunity to properly learn ASL. Once she arrives, she makes friends, immerses herself in a new language, and perhaps even is falling in love.

This is such a sweet story! I really liked Lilah; she’s kind and compassionate, but also sympathetic in her search for her identity. She so often feels marginalized in various groups, so seeing her navigate that and find confidence is very moving. I also liked her friends at camp, especially Ethan, Ben, and Bobby. Her interactions with Mackenzie were great too, as they highlight ways that hearing people can be good allies to the Deaf community.

As for Isaac, I quite liked him as a love interest, too. At first, I wasn’t sure how much I cared about them, because there was such a noticeable language barrier, but as time passed, I grew to like them together. Sortino is great about showing how he is considerate while Lilah learns ASL, and that the two of them genuinely get to know each other before things become romantic. It’s pretty cute overall, but without being too unrealistic like some romcoms.

There are also some more serious moments that tackle how difficult it can be for deaf and blind people to navigate the world that really isn’t designed with them in mind. The complexities of things like cochlear implants, lip reading, and even simple accommodations like closed captioning on videos are explored. And there’s a standout scene at a grocery store that shows how awful some people can be, merely due to lack of knowledge and understanding.

In the end, Give Me A Sign is a delightful book. It’s a celebration of Deaf culture, and all the ways that people experience the world with little to no hearing, how they have to fight for their place in the world, and how, in spite of the obstacles, they can thrive. This book is also a cry for accessibility and empathy, without being too preachy. There is humor, kindness, struggle, hurt, comfort, and hope. It’s lovely, empowering, and entertaining.

Give Me A Sign will be published on July 11th, 2023!